The Art of Mastering...

itswac · #1 01-28-2010, 07:18 AM

So I recently got Logic Pro (thanks to some tips from people on TB) and I didn't even know it, but it comes with a mastering toolkit. I was psyyyyyyched to see that. So, I took a couple of my band's last recordings that needed some finalization and I mastered them.

I'm trying to share what I'm learning with the INTERNET so I wrote up a little piece about it. I would deeply appreciate anyone taking some time to click on the requisite hyperlink and:

a.) check out the recordings

b.) let me know if I got something wrong in either my concept or execution of mastering

Requisite Hyperlink

foq1978 · #2 01-28-2010, 09:03 AM

I know nothing about mastering, so I'll take a look. Thanks for the link!

foq1978 · #3 01-28-2010, 09:48 AM

Cool. Waiting for the second one!

itswac · #4 01-28-2010, 10:23 AM

If you mean the second song, it's at the bottom of the post.

foq1978 · #5 01-28-2010, 10:29 AM

I meant the second article on the subject. Covering "other things that can be done with an EQ, like pinpointing a hum from a noisy air duct or a bad amp and taking it right out of the mix, but that is for an advanced class." and other advanced material.

itswac · #6 01-28-2010, 10:29 AM

ah okay...glad to hear you're looking forward to it!

corinpills · #7 01-28-2010, 10:33 AM

This video should explain everything you need to know about the mastering process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9UbE...eature=related

itswac · #8 01-28-2010, 10:43 AM

nice script to that video, but the robotic pacing was killing me. That aside, I find myself feeling like I have A LOT of research and work to do.

Joe Nerve · #9 01-28-2010, 10:53 AM

Plugged in.

Thanks for what seems to be a great link. The mastering you did sounds great, but I can't really say much as I'm half deaf from playing for waaay too long without earplugs. Recording and mixing on my own has become a challenge, but I do it anyway. I fiddle with mastering my stuff also, but I've been pretty much doing guesswork. I'm looking forward into diving into your link a bit more, don't have the time right now though, Thanks for posting.

topcat2069 · #10 01-28-2010, 11:57 AM

This is what I've said

http://home.pacbell.net/vsrbliss/Studio.html

Mastering used to be what you HAD TO DO to get your recording on vinyl... the RIAA curve which calls for less Bass (so the needle wont jump out of the groove) and boosting treble (it's easier to reproduce on vinyl) with the reverse EQ on playback equipment... Mastering was the art of getting the right balance for the vinyl size (7", 10" and 12") and speed as some 10" records were played at 45 RPM as well as some 12" or 33 1/3 which could be 7", 10" or 12".... Now Mastering seems to be "Making It LOUD !!!!" but with MP3s and down-loadable files, I still try to leave some head room (depending on the type of music, say 6 to 8 db for Jazz and acoustic to say 5 to 3 db for dance), when I was doing Rap and Hip Hop it was all about LOUD.... I don't do that any more.

itswac · #11 01-28-2010, 12:39 PM

I get a sense, though, that there is also a pull in a more subtle or lo-fi direction for production with genres like indie folk and jazzier rock coming to the forefront. There are music fans who are hungry for something that is the antithesis of all that loudness and high production material they were subjected to in the later nineties early 2000s

foq1978 · #12 01-28-2010, 12:46 PM

True.
A good example being Tom Waits' Real Gone. Lo-fi at its most! Just listen to Dead and Lovely, for instance.

topcat2069 · #13 01-28-2010, 01:02 PM

Yeah... there is a backlash happening right now... some people are a little more interested in real performance and real dynamic range... the old school "get it sounding as good as you can and let the performers do what they do...." There was a lot of producers in control back then... it was about "time is Money" more then "Keeping it pure and real".... less money was made back then too with all the small independent record labels and all..... If you really want to hear the "old School sound listen to some Nat King Cole.... check out the sound of his voice.... that's all the mic !!

itswac · #14 01-29-2010, 02:24 PM

Love Nat King Cole...are you saying that that is all the microphone itself or his microphone technique?

topcat2069 · #15 01-30-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itswac

Love Nat King Cole...are you saying that that is all the microphone itself or his microphone technique?

His voice (naturally), technique and mic.... the air in his voice is him but it takes the right mic to capture it...

**zenrad** · #16 01-30-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corinpills

This video should explain everything you need to know about the mastering process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9UbE...eature=related

That was great - I like this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx-Dt...eature=related

JohnDavisNYC · #17 02-01-2010, 07:26 AM

anyone interested in mastering should buy the book 'Mastering Audio' by Bob Katz... it is an amazing work, and even if you don't want to be a mastering engineer, it will help your understanding of audio in general.

cheers,
john

itswac · #18 02-01-2010, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnDavisNYC

anyone interested in mastering should buy the book 'Mastering Audio' by Bob Katz... it is an amazing work, and even if you don't want to be a mastering engineer, it will help your understanding of audio in general.

cheers,
john

I will take certainly that tip. Are you on any special projects right now?

nysbob · #19 02-01-2010, 10:15 PM

My last band CD was mastered by this guy in Nashville. He takes your 24 bit files back through some primo analog gear and will even lay it back to magnetic tape. It took all the digital harshness out of our latest and made it sound like a record. I was very pleased with the results.

Good mastering engineers are worth spending a little more for if you're on the same page with them. I really hate the loud thing.

JohnDavisNYC · #20 02-02-2010, 06:51 AM

itswac,

yeah, that book is amazing... as far as projects, been really busy... mixed 4 records last month and 2 singles... getting ready to do a record later this week with jojo. lots of good stuff!

john